Those Who Have Lain in State or in Honor

in the United States Capitol

United States Capitol

The Rotunda of the United States Capitol, 

completed in 1824, has historically been considered the most suitable place for the nation to pay 

final tribute to its most eminent citizens by having 

their remains lie in state (in the case of government officials and military officers) or in honor (in 

the case of private citizens). These occasions are 

either authorized by a congressional resolution or 

approved by the congressional leadership, when 

permission is granted by survivors. In addition to 

the Rotunda, other areas such as National Statuary Hall, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, the 

entrance to the House Chamber, and the East 

Central Front Portico have been used for those 

who have lain in state or in honor. The prominent 

individuals who have been so honored are listed 

below. These figures have lain in state, or in honor, 

in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda unless otherwise 

specified (indicated by an asterisk).

Henry Clay. July 1, 1852, following a memorial 

service in the Senate Chamber (S-228). Member 

of the House of Representatives from Kentucky 

for five nonconsecutive terms (1811–1825). Served 

as speaker in 1811–1814, 1815–1820, and 1823–1825. 

Secretary of state from 1825 to 1829. U.S. Senator 

from Kentucky intermittently for 18 years 

between 1806 and 1852. Died June 29, 1852, in 

Washington, D.C. during the 32nd Congress, 1st 

Session. No resolution.

Abraham Lincoln. April 19–21, 1865. Member 

of the House of Representatives from Illinois, 

March 4, 1847, to March 3, 1849. President of 

the United States from March 4, 1861, until 

his death. Assassinated April 14, 1865, in 

Washington, D.C, and died there April 15, 1865, 

after adjournment of the 38th Congress, 2nd 

Session. No resolution.

Funeral of Thaddeus Stevens

Taken in 1868, this is the earliest photograph in the records 

of the Architect of the Capitol showing a lying in state in the 

Rotunda.

Thaddeus Stevens. August 13–14, 1868, before a 

memorial service in the Rotunda. Member of 

the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, 

March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853, and again from 

March 4, 1859, until his death August 11, 1868, 

in Washington, D.C., during recess of the 40th 

Congress, 2nd Session. No resolution.

*Salmon P. Chase. May 11, 1873. Chief justice of 

the United States from 1864 until his death in 

1873. Services held in the U.S. Capitol Building 

were conducted in the Old Supreme Court 

Chamber.

Charles Sumner. March 13, 1874, before a memorial 

service in the Senate Chamber. U.S. Senator 

from Massachusetts, April 24, 1851, until his 

death, March 11, 1874, in Washington, D.C. 

during the 43d Congress, 1st Session. No 

resolution. 

Henry Wilson. November 25–26, 1875, before a 

memorial service in the Senate Chamber. U.S. 

Senator from Massachusetts, January 31, 1855, to 
2 Architect of the Capitol, Curator Office 

March 3, 1873, when he resigned to become vice 

president. Vice president of United States from 

March 4, 1873, until his death. Died November 

22, 1875, in the vice president’s room in the U.S. 

Capitol, Washington, D.C., after adjournment of 

the 43rd Congress, 2nd Session. No resolution.

James A. Garfield. September 21–23, 1881, before 

a memorial service in the Rotunda. President of 

the United States from March 4, 1881, until his 

death. Member of the House of Representatives 

from Ohio, March 4, 1863, to November 8, 1880, 

when he resigned, having been elected president. 

Assassinated July 2, 1881, in Washington, D.C., and 

died September 19, 1881, in Elberon, New Jersey, 

after adjournment of 46th Congress, 3rd Session. 

No resolution.

John A. Logan. December 30–31, 1886, before a 

memorial service in the Senate Chamber. Member 

of the House of Representatives from Illinois, 

March 4, 1859, to April 2, 1862, when he resigned 

to enter the Union Army, and again from March 

4, 1867, until March 3, 1871. U.S. Senator from 

Illinois, March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1877, and again 

from March 4, 1879, to December 26, 1886. Died 

December 26, 1886, in Washington, D.C., during 

the 49th Congress, 2nd Session. No resolution.

William McKinley Jr. September 17, 1901, following 

a memorial service in the Rotunda. Member of 

the House of Representatives from Ohio, March 

4, 1877, to May 27, 1884, and again from March 4, 

1885, to March 3, 1891. Governor of Ohio from 1892 

to 1896. President of United States, March 4, 1897, 

until his death. Assassinated September 6, 1901, in 

Buffalo, New York, and died there September 14, 

1901, after adjournment of the 56th Congress, 2nd 

Session. No resolution.

Pierre Charles L’Enfant. (re-interment) April 28, 

1909, before a memorial service in the Rotunda. 

Planner of the city of Washington, D.C. Died 

June 14, 1825, and was buried on Digges farm, 

Prince George’s County, Maryland. Remains were 

brought to the U.S. Capitol, April 28, 1909, to 

be re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda was granted by 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 2, 61st Congress, 1st 

Session, agreed to March 26, 1909.

George Dewey. January 20, 1917, during a memorial 

service in the Rotunda. Admiral of the Navy and 

hero of Manila Bay in the Spanish-American 

War. Died January 16, 1917, in Washington, D.C.

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by House 

Concurrent Resolution 68, 64th Congress, 2nd 

Session, agreed to January 18, 1917.

Unknown Soldier of World War I. November 9–11, 

1921. Chosen to honor and perpetuate the memory 

of the heroes who gave their lives in World War I. 

The body was that of an unknown American who 

served as a member of the American Expeditionary 

Forces in Europe. Congress was in session, 67th 

Congress, 1st Session. No resolution.

Warren G. Harding. August 8, 1923, following a 

memorial service in the Rotunda. U.S. Senator 

from Ohio, March 4, 1915, to January 13, 1921, 

when he resigned, having been elected president. 

President of the United States March 4, 1921, until 

his death. Died August 2, 1923, in San Francisco, 

California, after adjournment of the 67th 

Congress, 4th Session. No resolution.

William H. Taft. March 11, 1930. President of the 

United States March 4, 1909, to March 4, 1913. 

Chief justice of the United States, July 11, 1921, 

to February 3, 1930. Died March 8, 1930, in 

Washington, D.C., during 71st Congress, 2nd 

Session. No resolution.

John J. Pershing. July 18–19, 1948. General of the 

Armies of the United States. Graduated from 

U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1886 and 

devoted his entire life to military service. Chief 

of staff of the Army 1921–1924; Commander of 

the American Expeditionary Forces, World War 

I; distinguished service during the Philippine 

insurrection and the Spanish-American War. Died 

July 15, 1948, in Washington, D.C., during recess of 

the 80th Congress, 2nd Session. No resolution.

Robert A. Taft. August 2–3, 1953, before a memorial 

service in the Rotunda. U.S. Senator from Ohio, 

January 3, 1939, until his death. Died July 31, 

1953, in New York City, during 83rd Congress, 

1st Session, Senate Resolution 158, 83rd Congress, 

1st Session, agreed to August 1, 1953, extended 

invitation to the memorial service in the Rotunda, 

August 3, 1953.
Architect of the Capitol, Curator Office 3

Unknown Soldiers of World War II and the 

Korean War. May 28–30, 1958. Chosen to honor 

and perpetuate the memory of the heroes who gave 

their lives while serving overseas in the U.S. armed 

forces during World War II and the Korean War, 

and whose identities were unknown. Authority for 

use of the Rotunda granted by House Concurrent 

Resolution 242, 85th Congress, 2nd Session, agreed 

to March 6, 1958.

John F. Kennedy. November 24–25, 1963, following 

a memorial service in the Rotunda. Member of 

the House of Representatives from Massachusetts, 

January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1953. U.S. Senator 

from Massachusetts, January 3, 1953, to December 

22, 1960, when he resigned to become president. 

President of the United States from January 20, 

1961, until his death. Assassinated in Dallas, Texas, 

on November 22, 1963, during the 88th Congress, 

1st Session. No resolution.

Douglas MacArthur. April 8–9, 1964. Superintendent 

of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point 

1919–1922; appointed chief of staff of the Army, 

November 21, 1930; appointed general of the Army, 

December 18, 1944. Served in the Pacific and Far 

East in various allied commands from July 26, 

1941, through April 11, 1951. Died April 5, 1964, 

in Washington, D.C. Authority for use of the 

Rotunda granted by Senate Concurrent Resolution 

74, 88th Congress, 2nd Session, agreed to April 6, 

1964.

Herbert C. Hoover. October 23–25, 1964. Secretary 

of commerce for Presidents Harding and Coolidge. 

Food administrator under President Wilson. 

Chairman of Commission on the Organization 

of Executive Branch of Government in 1947–1949 

and 1953–1955. President of the United States from 

March 4, 1929, to March 3, 1933. Died October 20, 

1964, in New York City, after adjournment of the 

88th Congress, 2nd Session. No resolution.

Dwight D. Eisenhower. March 30–31, 1969. 

Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West 

Point in 1915, promoted to general of the Army in 

1944, and named president of Columbia University 

in 1948. President of the United States from 

January 20, 1953, to January 20, 1961. Died March 

28, 1969, in Washington, D.C., during the 91st 

Congress, 1st Session. No resolution.

Everett M. Dirksen. September 9–10, 1969, following 

a memorial service in the Rotunda. Member of the 

House of Representatives from Illinois, March 4, 

1933 to January 3, 1949. U.S. Senator from Illinois, 

January 3, 1951, until his death. Died September 7, 

1969, in Washington, D.C. Senate Resolution 254, 

91st Congress, 1st Session, agreed to September 8, 

1969, extended invitations to memorial service in 

the Rotunda, September 9, 1969. 

J. Edgar Hoover. May 3–4, 1972, following a 

memorial service in the Rotunda. First director 

of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1924 until 

his death. Died May 2, 1972, in Washington, D.C.

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by House 

Concurrent Resolution 600, 92nd Congress, 2nd 

Session, agreed to May 2, 1972.

Lyndon B. Johnson. January 24–25, 1973, following 

a memorial service in the Rotunda. Member of 

the House of Representatives from Texas, April 

10, 1937, to January 3, 1949. U.S. Senator from 

Texas January 3, 1949, to January 3, 1961, when he 

resigned, having been elected vice president. Vice 

president from January 20, 1961, to November 22, 

1963, when he assumed the presidency. President 

of the United States from November 22, 1963, 

to January 20, 1969. Died January 22, 1973, near 

Johnson City, Texas. Authority for use of the 

Rotunda granted by House Concurrent Resolution 

90, 93rd Congress, 1st Session, agreed to January 

23, 1973.

Hubert H. Humphrey. January 14–15, 1978, before 

a memorial service in the Rotunda. U.S. Senator 

from Minnesota, January 3, 1949, to December 29, 

1964, when he resigned to become vice president. 

Vice president from January 20, 1965, to January 

20, 1969. Returned to the Senate from November 

3, 1970, until his death. Died January 14, 1978, 

in Waverly, Minnesota, after adjournment of the 

95th Congress, 1st Session. Authority for use of 

the Rotunda granted by the speaker of the House 

of Representatives and the majority leader of the 

Senate. No resolution.

Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam Conflict. May 

25–28, 1984. Chosen to honor the unknown 

Americans who lost their lives while serving in the 

Armed Forces of the United States in Southeast 

Asia during 1959–1972. Authority for use of the 
4 Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Curator

Rotunda granted by House Concurrent Resolution 

296, 98th Congress, 2nd Session, agreed to May 17, 

1984.

Claude D. Pepper. June 1–2, 1989, following a 

memorial ceremony in the Rotunda. U.S. Senator 

from Florida November 4, 1936, to January 3, 1951. 

Member of the House of Representatives from 

Florida, January 3, 1963, until his death May 30, 

1989, in Washington, D.C. Authority for use of the 

Rotunda granted by House Concurrent Resolution 

139, 101st Congress, 1st Session, agreed to May 31, 

1989.

Jacob J. Chestnut and John M. Gibson. July 28, 

1998, before and following a memorial ceremony 

in the Rotunda. U.S. Capitol Police officers killed 

at the U.S. Capitol in the line of duty on July 24, 

1998. Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by 

House Concurrent Resolution 310, 105th Congress, 

2nd Session, agreed to July 27, 1998. Lay in honor; 

did not use catafalque.

Ronald W. Reagan. June 9–11, 2004, following a 

memorial service in the Rotunda. Governor of 

California from 1967 to 1975. President of the 

United States from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 

1989. Died June 5, 2004, in Bel Air, California. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by Senate 

Concurrent Resolution 115, 108th Congress, 2nd 

Session, agreed to June 9, 2004.

Rosa Parks. October 30–31, 2005. Civil rights pioneer. 

Died October 24, 2005, in Detroit, Michigan. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by Senate 

Concurrent Resolution 61, 109th Congress, 1st 

Session, agreed to October 29, 2005. Lay in honor; 

did not use catafalque.

Gerald R. Ford Jr. December 30, 2006–January 2, 

2007. Member of the House of Representatives 

from Michigan, January 3, 1949, to December 6, 

1973, when he resigned to become vice president. 

Vice president from December 6, 1973, to August 9, 

1974, when President Richard M. Nixon resigned. 

President of the United States from August 9, 1974, 

to January 20, 1977. Died December 26, 2006, in 

Rancho Mirage, California, after adjournment 

of the 109th Congress, 2nd session. Authority for 

use of the Rotunda granted by the speaker of the 

House of Representatives and the majority leader of 

the Senate. No resolution.

Daniel K. Inouye. December 20, 2012. Member 

of the House of Representatives from Hawaii, 

August 21, 1959, to January 3, 1963. U.S. Senator 

from Hawaii, January 3, 1963, to his death. Died 

December 17, 2012, in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by Senate 

Concurrent Resolution 64, 112th Congress, 2nd 

Session, agreed to December 19, 2012.

Billy Graham. February 28–March 1, 2018, following 

a memorial service in the Rotunda. Minister, 

evangelist and adviser to presidents. Died 

February 21, 2018, in Montreat, North Carolina. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by House 

Concurrent Resolution 107, 115th Congress, 2nd 

Session, agreed to February 26, 2018. Lay in honor; 

did not use catafalque.

John S. McCain III. August 31, 2018, following a 

memorial service in the Rotunda. Member of the 

House of Representatives from Arizona, January 3, 

1983, to January 3, 1987. U.S. Senator from Arizona, 

January 3, 1987, to his death. Died August 25, 

2018, in Sedona, Arizona. Authority for use of the 

Rotunda granted by Senate Concurrent Resolution 

44, 115th Congress, 2nd Session, agreed to August 

28, 2018.

George H.W. Bush. December 3–5, 2018, following 

a memorial ceremony in the Rotunda. Member 

of the House of Representatives from Texas, 

January 3, 1967, to January 3, 1971; United States 

ambassador to the United Nations, 1971–1973; chief 

United States liaison officer, People’s Republic of 

China, 1974–1976; director, Central Intelligence 

Agency, 1976–1977; vice president of the United 

States from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 

1989; president of the United States from January 

20, 1989, to January 20, 1993. Died November 

30, 2018, in Houston, Texas. Authority for use 

of the Rotunda granted by Senate Concurrent 

Resolution 55, 115th Congress, 2nd Session, agreed 

to December 3, 2018.

*Elijah Cummings. October 24, 2019. Member of the 

House of Representatives from Maryland, April 16, 

1996, until his death on October 17, 2019,

Architect of the Capitol, Curator Office
5 Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Curator

in Baltimore, Maryland. Authority for use of the 

Lincoln catafalque for memorial services to be 

conducted in the House wing of the U.S. Capitol, 

granted by Senate Concurrent Resolution 27, 116 

Congress, 1st session, agreed to October 21, 2019. 

Services were conducted in National Statuary Hall. 

A public viewing was also held at the entrance to 

the House Chamber.

John R. Lewis. July 27–28, 2020, following a 

memorial ceremony in the Rotunda. Member 

of the House of Representatives from Georgia, 

January 3, 1987, until his death July 17, 2020, in 

Atlanta, Georgia. Authority for use of the Rotunda 

granted by House Concurrent Resolution 105, 116th 

Congress, 2nd Session, agreed to July 27, 2020. A 

public viewing was also held on the East Central 

Front Portico. 

*Ruth Bader Ginsburg. September 25, 2020. 

Associate justice of the Supreme Court from 

August 10, 1993 until her death on September 18, 

2020, in Washington, D.C. Authority for use of 

the Lincoln catafalque for memorial services to 

be conducted in the Supreme Court Building 

and the Capitol granted by Senate Concurrent 

Resolution 45, 116th Congress, 2nd Session, agreed 

to September 21, 2020. Services held in the U.S. 

Capitol Building were conducted in National 

Statuary Hall. 

Brian D. Sicknick. February 2-3, 2021, before and 

following a memorial ceremony in the Rotunda. 

U.S. Capitol Police officer injured at the U.S. 

Capitol in the line of duty on January 6, 2021. 

He succumbed to his injuries on January 7, 2021. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by House 

Concurrent Resolution 10, 117th Congress, 1st 

Session, agreed to February 1, 2021. Lay in honor; 

urn with Officer Sicknick’s remains placed next to 

a U.S. flag on a pedestal; did not use catafalque.

William F. Evans. April 13, 2021, following a 

congressional tribute in the Rotunda. U.S. Capitol 

Police officer killed at the U.S. Capitol in the line 

of duty on April 2, 2021. Authority for use of the 

Rotunda granted by House Concurrent Resolution 

27, 117th Congress, 1st Session, agreed to April 12, 

2021. Lay in honor.

Architect of the Capitol, Curator Office

Robert J. Dole. December 9, 2021, following a 

congressional tribute in the Rotunda. Member 

of the House of Representatives from Kansas, 

January 3, 1961, to January 3, 1969. U.S. Senator 

from Kansas, January 3, 1969, to June 11, 1996. 

Died December 5, 2021 in Washington, D.C. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by Senate 

Concurrent Resolution 23, 117th Congress, 1st 

Session, agreed to December 8, 2021.

Harry M. Reid. January 12, 2022, following a 

congressional tribute in the Rotunda. Member 

of the House of Representatives from Nevada, 

January 3, 1983 to January 3, 1987. U.S. Senator 

from Nevada, January 3, 1987 to January 3, 2017. 

Died December 28, 2021 in Henderson, Nevada. 

Authority for use of the Rotunda granted by Senate 

Concurrent Resolution 25, 117th Congress, 2nd 

Session, agreed to January 10, 2022.

*Donald E. Young. March 29, 2022, following 

a congressional tribute. Member of the House 

of Representatives from Alaska, March 6, 1973 

until his death on March 18, 2022. Services were 

conducted in National Statuary Hall. Did not use 

catafalque.

Hershel W. “Woody” Williams. July 14, 2022, 

following a congressional tribute in the Rotunda. 

Last living World War II Medal of Honor recipient. 

Died June 29, 2022 in Huntington, West Virginia. 

Authority for the use of the Rotunda granted by 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 42, 117th Congress, 

2nd Session, agreed to July 13, 2022. Lay in honor; 

did not use catafalque.

July 2022